Casting On: Unwrapped

After my failed attempt at crocheting Himbeerwellen I have decided to cast on a new project. Never mind that I have other projects waiting for me to finish. Which they will eventually be done but I wanted something easy and cute to complete and maybe wear to the office.

I have decided on Unwrapped by Jody Pirrello. Here is a photo from the project page:

Not my photo!

Cute, right? I decided to make it in Berroco Vintage DK. The Berroco Vintage is one of my favorite lines. It is so soft, inexpensive and wears very well. Here is a photo of the yarn:

Sorry for the not so great photo.

I love the color red and I think this pattern would work very well  with this pattern. This weekend I will have a lot of uninterrupted knit time so I should have a good progress for WIP Wednesday.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

~Knitting Chica

Work in Progress Wednesday: Himbeerwellen

This months on the Google+ Crochet Along group we are working on the Himbeerwellen mitts. As you can see from the project page picture below they are absolutely gorgeous.

Not my photo. This is the photo from the Designer's project page.

I officially started this project on October 6th after I was done with my Rainbow Brite Socks . It has been a real challenge working on this project. The project is done completely in back loop slip stitch, which I have never done before and as an added bonus you have to crochet very loose and that is like a foreign concept with me as I crochet very tightly.

I finished one of the mitts today and as much as I appreciate learning a new technique and as much as I like the look of this pattern I will not be completing this project. Why you ask? Well let me show you....

How bad is that stitching? :(

After all the trouble I went through to get to the end of the pattern. I get to the seam and it is like entering the seventh circle of hell. Really, I am not kidding, I was chilling with Alexander the Great in the Phlegethon (I read the Inferno many times, can you tell?). That is how bad this part was. I started this over so many times that the stitches started to separate from each other. So I decided instead of frustrating myself and destroying my beautiful Bugga, I am going to make Mary Margaret's Lace Tam.

Mary Margaret from Once Upon a Time

Who knows maybe at some point in the future I will give the mitts another try.

Until next time, Happy Knitting or Crocheting!!

~Knitting Chica

Knitting Books Wish List

I am always looking to get better at my craft so it is not surprising that I have a pretty big Knitting Book wishlist. Right now the books on the top of my wishlist are:

Do you have any books in your wishlist?

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

~Knitting Chica

Rainbow Brite Socks

I finally finished my Rainbow Brite Socks and I could not be happier. Perfect time to be done with them too since the weather is getting cooler. I have two more pairs of socks on my to do list but I think I will only get one more completed before the year is out.

I think Rainbow Brite would have approved.

What do you think? As usual you can see more on my Ravelry project page here.


 Until next time, Happy Knitting!

~Knitting Chica

Knit Wear Fall 2012

Last night I picked up the latest Knit Wear magazine and I have to say I am not disappointed by the patterns, but then again I have yet to be disappointed on the patterns offered by this publication.

My favorite patterns from this issue are:

Boxed Pullover

Trapezoid Tee

Tucked-Buttonband Cardigan

Turned Cable Cardigan

You can see the rest of the patterns on Ravelry here. Have you seen this issue? What are your favorite patterns?

Until next time, Happy knitting!

~Knitting Chica

Work in Progress Thursday?

I do not know what happened to Wednesday. It slipped right by me and I did not write up a blog post. So today will be my Wednesday and Thursday rolled into one.

First let us start with what I am working on:

One down, one more to go

The Rainbow Brite Socks. I am still going at it. I should have been done with this project ages ago but it has turned into the after thought project. The project that I would work on for a little while when my main project is giving me heart burn. Well, since I already finished the first sock I decided to knock this one out and finish it this week.

Now on to the latest project. On the Crochet Along on Google+ group we are  working on the Himbeerwellen Mitts as our CAL for the month of October.

Not my photo. This is the photo from the project page.

I have yet to start this project, actually I did start it but frogged it so that I can practice on thicker yarn so I can get a hang of the stitches. I am pretty excited about this project. The mitts are very pretty, I am learning a new technique and I get to use this beautiful yarn:


Cephalopod Skinny Bugga in the color Spanish Dancer

What projects are you working on or about to cast on?

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

~Knitting Chica

The Mist Stole

Pattern: Mist Stole
Designer: Cathy Johnson
Pattern book: N/A
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock
Hook: Size F
Pattern Rating: 5 out of 5

I finished my Stole for the Google+ September Crochet Along last week and took it off the block mat yesterday.

The yarn was a dream to work with and I cannot wait to use other yarns by the same company. This was supposed to be a Christmas present but I am in love with it too much to give it up. You can read more about this project on my Ravelry project page.

Until next time, Happy Hooking!

~Knitting Chica

I do other things too...

You would think that  the only thing I like to do it play with Fiber since that is about all I talk about. But believe it our not I have another passion and that is jewelry making. I do Beading, work with Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and Silversmithing. Every technique is different and a lot of fun.

Here are some photos of my PMC jewelry I created:

Hand Antiqued Fine Silver Double Sided Pendant and Flower with Vines Ring

Here is some of my beaded jewelry:

Jade, Fresh Water Pearls, Turquoise and Glass Czech Beads

I got to spend a little bit of time on the jewelers bench on Saturday and I made this ring:

Very simple and understated, just how I wanted it. I textured the band and made it a bit wavy to add interest and not be too plain. It came out exactly how I envisioned it.

I do not make jewelry as much because it is much harder to find the time. Is not like with knitting or crocheting that you can take those projects with you on the go. I did make myself a promise this weekend to spend more time making jewelry. I really enjoyed myself, it is wonderful taking a piece of metal and turning it into something beautiful.

Until next time, Happy Knitting Jewelry Making!

~ Knitting Jewelry Chica